Folded blank for the manufacture of a rigid wrapper

ABSTRACT

A folded blank ( 1 ) used to manufacture a rigid packet ( 2 ) is prepared from a flat diecut blank ( 3 ) presenting a first panel ( 6 ) and a second panel ( 8 ), pairs of lateral panels ( 10, 11, 30 ) hinged respectively to the first and second panels ( 6, 8 ), and two end panels ( 12, 14 ). The flat blank ( 3 ) is also scored with a fold line ( 5 ) separating a first part ( 16 ) and a second part ( 17 ) that are bent double and flattened one against the other to produce an initially collapsed configuration. Each of the lateral panels ( 10, 11, 30 ) associated with the first or second part ( 16, 17 ) is divided by a preferential fold line ( 25 ) to create a first inner portion ( 26 ) and a second outer portion ( 27 ), so that when bent along this same line ( 25 ), at least one portion ( 26, 27 ) can be offered and fixed to the corresponding lateral panel ( 10, 11 ) of the other part ( 17, 16 ), and when the folded blank ( 1 ) is then fully erected to form the packet ( 2 ), the lateral panels ( 10, 11 ) will overlap and conceal the respective preferential fold lines ( 25 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a folded blank obtained from a flat diecut and used in the manufacture of a rigid carton or packet intended principally to hold sweets and candy, chewing gum and similar edible products.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, such edible products are marketed and offered to the public enveloped in special packs. One familiar example of such a pack on general sale consists in a packet of box-like appearance, that is to say a rigid wrapper delimiting a container in which to place one or more items of food and/or confectionery. In the general case of parallelepiped containers, hence with rectilinear corner edges, the packets in question are manufactured on packaging machines referred to normally as cartoners.

In these machines, an infeed magazine is filled with stacks of tubular carton blanks, each fashioned from a flat diecut blank scored with crease lines and presenting four walls delimited by the creases.

The single tubular carton blank presents a flat configuration initially, collapsed to form two layers substantially breasted in contact one with another and joined along two outer crease lines, each layer consisting in two adjacent walls of the carton joined along a relative inner crease line.

As the blank advances through the machine, the two layers are spread apart one from another and opened out to establish four longitudinal walls arranged in two mutually opposed and parallel pairs.

The wrapper is completed normally by folding up the two opposite ends to form a bottom and a lid.

Machines of the type in question are nonetheless unable to process cartons of non-parallelepiped geometry, hence with non-rectilinear corner edges, due to the difficulty of fashioning tubular blanks with curvilinear crease lines.

The object of the present invention is to provide a folded blank such as will enable a cartoning machine to fashion cartons or packets of any given shape, and in particular, packets with a hinged lid presenting corner edges of curvilinear outline.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized according to the present invention in a folded blank presenting a plurality of panels delimited by precreased fold lines, such as can be erected from an initially collapsed configuration to fashion a rigid packet.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first packet obtained from a folded blank according to the invention, viewed schematically and in perspective after a process of erecting the selfsame blank has been completed;

FIG. 2 is the plan view of a flat diecut blank from which to produce the folded blank used for the manufacture of a packet as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first step by which a folded blank is prepared from the flat blank of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the folded blank obtained from the flat blank of FIG. 2, in an initially collapsed configuration, viewed schematically from the front;

FIG. 5 shows the folded blank of FIG. 4, viewed schematically from the rear;

FIG. 6 illustrates a second packet obtained from a folded blank according to the invention, viewed schematically and in perspective after a process of erecting the selfsame blank has been completed;

FIG. 7 shows a folded blank from which to erect the packet of FIG. 6, viewed schematically from the front in an initially collapsed configuration;

FIG. 8 shows the folded blank of FIG. 7, viewed schematically from the rear in the same initially collapsed configuration;

FIG. 9 shows the folded blank of FIGS. 7 and 8, viewed schematically in perspective and with parts cut away for greater clarity, illustrated in a configuration identifiable substantially with an intermediate step in the process of erecting the blank;

FIG. 10 shows the folded blank of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, fully erected, viewed schematically in perspective and with parts cut away for greater clarity;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flat diecut blank from which to prepare a further and different folded blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a first step by which a folded blank is prepared from the flat blank of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a folded blank obtained from the flat blank of FIG. 11, viewed schematically from the front and shown in the initially collapsed configuration;

FIG. 14 shows the folded blank of FIG. 13, viewed schematically from the rear.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a folded blank according to the present invention, in its entirety, viewed in an initially collapsed configuration from which it can be erected to form a rigid packet 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The folded blank 1 is referable to a predominating axis denoted 4, and generated from a flat diecut blank 3 as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 2, which is referable in turn to a predominating axis denoted 4′.

The flat blank 3 presents a fold line 5, extending transversely to the predominating axis 4′, along which it is bent double to create the folded blank 1.

The flat blank 3 is divided into a first panel 6, coinciding with the front 7 of the aforementioned packet 2, a second panel 8 coinciding with the back 9 of the packet 2, also two pairs of lateral panels 10 and 11 hinged respectively to the first panel 6 and to the second panel 8 on opposite sides of the predominating axis 4 and coinciding with the two flanks 60 of the packet 2, as will become clear in due course.

The flat blank 3 further comprises an end panel denoted 12, shaped appropriately to match any one of various conventional styles not described further, coinciding with the top end face or lid 13 of the packet 2, and an end panel denoted 14 coinciding with the opposite end face or bottom 15 of the packet 2.

In the examples of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, in particular, where the predominating axes 4 and 4′ are parallel one with another, the panel denoted 14 is hinged on opposite sides of the fold line 5 to the first panel 6 and to the second panel 8, the fold line 5 establishing an axis of symmetry bisecting the selfsame panel 14, with the result that the folded blank 1 is divided substantially into a first part 16 and a second part 17 offered one to the other in frontal contact, as will become clear in due course.

The flat diecut blank 3, and consequently the folded blank 1 in question, also presents a plurality of crease lines 18, 19 and 20 impressed on the first part 16, of which those denoted 18 and 19 extend transversely to the predominating axis 4, the latter line 19 functioning as a hinge between the first panel 6 and the end panel 14, whilst those denoted 20 extend substantially parallel to the selfsame axis 4 and function as a hinge between the first panel 6 and the relative lateral panels 10.

Similarly, the second part 17 of the blank 3 also presents a plurality of crease lines 21, 22 and 23 extending transversely to the predominating axis 4, of which the lines denoted 21 and 22 serve to delimit the lid 13 of the packet 2 and the line denoted 23 functions as a hinge between the second panel 8 and the end panel 14, delimiting the bottom 15 of the packet 2.

Further crease lines 24 presented by the second part 17 extend parallel to the predominating axis 4 and function as hinges between the second panel 8 and the relative lateral panels 11.

The single blank also presents preferential fold lines 25 extending one along each of the lateral panels 11, parallel to the predominating axis 4, delimiting a first inner lateral portion 26 and a second outer lateral portion 27 of the respective panel 11.

In the particular solution illustrated by way of example, the fold line 25 on each lateral panel 11 establishes an axis of symmetry along which, in the collapsed configuration assumed initially by the folded blank 1, the outer portion 27 is folded and bent double against the relative inner portion 26.

In the examples of FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, more exactly, the first part 16 of the folded blank 1 is bent double and flattened against the second part 17, and the outer portions 27 presented by the two lateral panels 11 of the second part 17 are anchored each to the corresponding lateral portion 10 of the first part 16, positioned in such a way that when the two parts 16 and 17 of the folded blank 1 are distanced one from the other, and each two lateral portions 26 and 27 caused as a result to rotate about the relative preferential fold line 25, the lateral panels 10 will be brought into full overlapping contact with the respective fold lines 25.

To advantage, in other embodiments of the invention not illustrated herein but adopting the same relative positioning of each outer portion 27 and the corresponding lateral panel 10 as described above, whereby this same panel 10 is made to cover the preferential fold line 25 of the relative matching lateral panel 11 when the folded blank 1 is fully erected, the outer portion 27 can be fastened to the first part 16 of the flat blank 3 utilizing suitable fixing means substantially of conventional type.

In further embodiments, likewise not illustrated, the folded blank 1 might be obtained by scoring a preferential fold line along each of the lateral panels 10 of the first part 16, thereby delimiting respective outer lateral portions that can be bent double against respective inner lateral portions and fastened to the second part 17.

With reference in particular to FIG. 9, which illustrates an intermediate stage in the erection of the folded blank 1, the lateral panels denoted 10 are shown anchored in part to the relative outer lateral portions 27 of the corresponding panels 11 by means of an interposed layer of adhesive 28, and projecting temporarily from these same lateral portions 27.

With the folded blank 1 fully erected, as shown in FIG. 10, the flanks 60 and the bottom end face 15 of the packet 2 assume their final configuration, in particular, with each flank 60 defined by the pairing of two corresponding lateral panels 11 and 10, with the panel 10 of the one part 16 covering the panel 11 of the other part 17 and concealing the relative preferential fold line 25; employing a conventional method not described in the present specification, the fully erected blank 1 emerges with each lateral panel 10 of the one part 16 glued over its entire surface to the relative lateral panel 11 of the other part 17.

Observing the preferred embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 and in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the lateral panels denoted 10 comprises a flap 29, delimited by the crease line denoted 18, such as will interact with the lid 13 in retaining the contents (not illustrated) internally of the packet 2.

The packet 2 will be completed, proceeding from the configuration of FIG. 5, by making a succession of folds in the end panel 12 of the blank 1 to fashion the lid 13, employing substantially conventional methods.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a folded blank 1 obtained from a flat diecut blank 3 as in FIGS. 11 and 12, for use in the manufacture of a packet (not illustrated) presenting curvilinear contours.

Observing the solution of FIGS. 13 and 14, it will be appreciated that there are certain essential differences between this and the solutions described above.

First of all, and in particular, it will be seen that the fold line 5 in the flat diecut blank 3, along which the first and second parts 16 and 17 of the folded blank 1 are bent double, coincides with a preferential fold line 25 scored on a lateral panel denoted 30, parallel to the predominating axis 4 of the blank; in this solution, therefore, the panel 30 in question functions both as a lateral panel 10 of the first panel 6 and as a lateral panel 11 of the second panel 8.

In effect, the lateral panel 30 is common to the first panel 6 and the second panel 8, given that these same two panels 6 and 8 are hinged to the lateral panel 30 by way of respective crease lines 20 and 24 on opposite sides of the fold line 5.

Significantly, in this embodiment of the invention, the predominating axis 4′ of the flat diecut blank 3 extends substantially transverse to the predominating axis 4 of the folded blank 1.

The flat blank 3 is bent along the fold line 5, hence at one and the same time along the preferential fold line 25 of the lateral panel 30, which is thus divided into an inner portion 26, adjacent to the second panel 8, and an outer portion 27 adjacent to the first panel 6, so that in the initially collapsed configuration, these same two portions 26 and 27 are bent double and flattened one against another.

As in the solutions described and illustrated previously, the panel denoted 10 is again anchored to the outer portion 27 of the panel denoted 11, and the step of distancing the first part 16 and the second part 17 of the folded blank has the effect of erecting the packet 2 and thereupon causing the lateral panel 10 to cover the relative preferential fold line 25.

In the example of FIGS. 11 to 14, the end panel denoted 14 presents a plurality of appendages 31 delimited by a relative crease line 23, such as can be folded flat against the panel 14 to form the bottom 15 of the packet 2.

The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a folded blank 1 as described and illustrated.

With reference in particular to FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIGS. 11 to 14, such a method includes the steps of bending the lateral panel or panels 11 of the second panel 8 along the preferential fold line 25, so as to obtain a semi-folded blank as in FIGS. 3 and 12, and then bending the first part 16 flat over the second part 17 to obtain the folded blank 1 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 13 and 14.

Observing the folded blank 1, to reiterate, each outer portion 27 is positioned relative to the corresponding lateral panel 10 in such a way that when the folded blank 1 is erected, the panel 10 will overlap the preferential fold line 25 of the corresponding lateral panel 11 at least in part.

In particular, the overlapping stage includes the step of bending the first and second parts 16 and 17 of the flat diecut blank 3 along the fold line 5.

To advantage, the folded blank 1 is prepared by fastening the second outer portions 27 of the lateral panels 11 to the first part 16, and in particular to the corresponding lateral panels 10.

It will be seen, in the case of the packet 2 with curvilinear contours illustrated in FIG. 1, that the packet is easily assembled by erecting the folded blank 1, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, on a cartoning machine of conventional embodiment.

Advantageously, with a folded blank 1 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, used to manufacture a parallelepiped packet as in FIGS. 9 and 10, the flanks 60 of the packet are strengthened by bonding together the relative pairs of lateral panels 10 and 11 and by the presence of the preferential fold line 25 on each of the panels denoted 11, thereby allowing the adoption of a thinner cardboard than would be used normally to manufacture such packets.

Similarly, in the case of the folded blank 1 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the relative packet presenting curvilinear contours (not illustrated) can be erected on a conventional cartoning machine. 

1. A folded blank for the manufacture of a rigid packet (2), obtainable from a flat diecut blank (3) presenting a first panel (6) and a second panel (8) coinciding respectively with the front (7) and the back (9) of the packet (2), pairs of lateral panels (10, 11, 30) hingedly attached respectively to the first and second panels (6,8) and establishing the flanks (60) of the packet (2), and end panels (12, 14) establishing the top end face (13) and the bottom end face (15) of the packet (2), characterized in that the flat diecut blank (3) is bent double along at least one fold line (5) to create a first part (16) and a second part (17) flattened one against the other in such a manner that the folded blank (1) presents a collapsed configuration initially; in that each of the lateral panels (10, 11, 30) associated with one of the two parts (16, 17) of the blank presents a preferential fold line (25) delimiting a first inner lateral portion (26) and a second outer lateral portion (27), positioned such that the second outer portions (27) can be bent along the preferential fold line (25) and at least one portion (27) of one part (16, 17) offered to the corresponding lateral panel (11, 10) of the other part (16, 17) so that when the folded blank (1) is erected to form the packet (2), the corresponding lateral panel (11, 10) will overlap and cover the preferential fold line (25).
 2. A folded blank as in claim 1, wherein the second outer portion (27) of a lateral panel (10, 11) presented by one part (17, 16) of the blank (1), offered to the panel (10, 11) that will ultimately overlap the preferential fold line (25), is fastened permanently to the opposite part (16, 17) of the blank.
 3. A folded blank as in claim 2, wherein the second outer portion (27) is fastened permanently to the corresponding lateral panel (10, 11) presented by the opposite part (16, 17) of the blank.
 4. A folded blank as in claim 3, wherein the preferential fold line (25) coincides with an axis of symmetry of the lateral panel (10, 11, 30).
 5. A folded blank as in claim 4, wherein the second outer portions (27) of each lateral portion are substantially flattened against the respective first inner portions (26) when the blank is in the initially collapsed configuration.
 6. A folded blank as in claim 5, referable to a predominating axis (4) disposed transversely to a predominating axis (4′) of the flat diecut blank (3) and extending parallel to the fold line (5) of the selfsame blank (3).
 7. A folded blank as in claim 6, wherein the preferential fold line (25) of the lateral panel (10, 11,30) coincides with the fold line (5) of the flat blank (3), and the lateral panel (30) is hinged on opposite sides of the preferential fold line (25) to the first panel (6) and the second panel (8).
 8. A folded blank as in claim 5, referable to a predominating axis (4) coinciding with a predominating axis (4′) of the flat diecut blank (3) and extending transversely to the fold line (5) of the selfsame blank (3).
 9. A folded blank as in claim 8, wherein the fold line (5) is applied to an end panel (14) hinged on opposite sides of the selfsame fold line (5) to the first panel (6) and the second panel (8).
 10. A folded blank as in claim 9, wherein the second outer portions (27) of the lateral panels (11) associated with the second panel (8) are positioned such that when the folded blank (1) is erected to form the packet (2), each lateral panel (10) associated with the first panel (6) will overlap the corresponding preferential fold line (25).
 11. A folded blank as in claim 9, wherein the second outer portions (27) of the lateral panels (10) associated with the first panel (6) are positioned such that when the folded blank (1) is erected to form the packet (2), each lateral panel (11) associated with the second panel (8) will overlap the corresponding preferential fold line (25).
 12. A folded blank as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of first crease lines (20, 24) functioning as hinges between the lateral panels (10, 11,30) and the first and second panels (6,8).
 13. A folded blank as in claim 12, comprising a plurality of second crease lines (19, 22, 23) functioning as hinges between the end panels (12, 14) and the first and second panels (6,8).
 14. A method of preparing a folded blank (1) as in claim 13, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: —bending the lateral panels (10,11, 30) associated with the first panel (6) or the second panel (8) along the preferential fold line (25); —bending the first part (16) of the folded blank (1) flat over the second part (17) in such a way that the second outer portions (27) of the lateral panels (10, 11) associated with one part (17,16) are positioned, relative to the corresponding lateral panels (10,11) of the other part (16,17), so that when the folded blank (1) is erected to form the packet (2), each lateral panel (10,11) will overlap a corresponding preferential fold line (25); —fastening the second outer portion (27) to the other part (16,17).
 15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the overlapping step includes the step of bending the first and second parts (16, 17) of the flat diecut blank (3) along the fold line (5).
 16. A folded blank as in claim 1, referable to a predominating axis (4) disposed transversely to a predominating axis (4′) of the flat diecut blank (3) and extending parallel to the fold line (5) of the selfsame blank (3).
 17. A folded blank as in claim 1, referable to a predominating axis (4) coinciding with a predominating axis (4′) of the flat diecut blank (3) and extending transversely to the fold line (5) of the selfsame blank (3).
 18. A folded blank as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of first crease lines (20, 24) functioning as hinges between the lateral panels (10, 11, 30) and the first and second panels (6,8).
 19. A folded blank as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of second crease lines (19, 22, 23) functioning as hinges between the end panels (12, 14) and the first and second panels (6,8).
 20. A method of preparing a folded blank (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: —bending the lateral panels (10,11, 30) associated with the first panel (6) or the second panel (8) along the preferential fold line (25); —bending the first part (16) of the folded blank (1) flat over the second part (17) in such a way that the second outer portions (27) of the lateral panels (10, 11) associated with one part (17,16) are positioned, relative to the corresponding lateral panels (10,11) of the other part (16,17), so that when the folded blank (1) is erected to form the packet (2), each lateral panel (10,11) will overlap a corresponding preferential fold line (25); —fastening the second outer portion (27) to the other part (16,17). 